January 29 by The City Centre Mirror

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see page 10 for nominations & contest inside Paleontologist digs into role on Dino Hunt Canada / 3

Mandela stamp unveiled at school

EXCLUSIVE FEATURE

The City: David Nickle / 4

JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com

Gala raises money for Special Olympics Canada / 11

Artist launches ode to 506 streetcar / 12 shopping wagjag.com amazing deals on group discounts

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BLACK history

MONTH

what is it like to be black in toronto? the black experience project delves into this question, and the mirror joins the conversation | 6

Grant helps new Canadians in St. James Town JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com

insidetoronto.com

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holistic and preventative approach to improving the well-being of residents in the downtown neighbourhood. Community Matters Toronto Board Chair Chris Hallett noted that Healthy Living in St. James

Town has been in the works for more than a year, adding the program seeks to break down barriers to health care for newcomers. “Things like breast cancer >>>healthy, page 2

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Mayor John Tory, Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander, Canada Post President and CEO Deepak Chopra and other dignitaries paid a visit to Nelson Mandela Park Public School Tuesday to unveil a postage stamp commemorating the school’s namesake. The stamp depicts the smiling face of the late South African leader, who paid a visit to the school in 2001, at which point the school – formerly Park Junior and Senior Public School – was renamed in his honour. Most special-issue stamps by Canada Post depict historic Canadians or Canadian scenes and themes, with exceptions made only for the most important and influential figures. While Mandela was best known for his civil rights work in South Africa, ending a 27-year prison stay and fighting tirelessly to end apartheid, Chopra noted he was an ideal fit for a stamp, as “nothing could be more deserving (of being honoured) than what Mr. Mandela did.” Chopra added that using a >>>nelson, page 5

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015 |

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Demolition continues at Regent Park South Demolition is now well underway at 605 Whiteside Pl., one of the last remaining highrise buildings in Regent Park South. With all the tenants now relocated, crews have started removing the exterior envelope of the circa 1958 building, exposing the colourful walls inside the apartment units hundreds of people once called home. Located at Dundas and Sumach streets, the 14-storey Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) building, designed by renowned

British-born, Toronto-based modernist architect Peter Dickinson, is coming down as part of Phase 3 of the Regent Park Revitalization Plan. Nearby townhouses, as well as a 14-storey tower at 14 Blevins Pl., which was also designed by Peter Dickinson and also opened its doors in 1958, are also slated for demolition. The third phase of construction kicked off in May 2014 with a special ceremony at the Regent Park South Rink at the corner of Shuter Street and Blevins Place.

Phase Three will include the construction of athletic grounds, more than 600 replacement rental social housing units, more than 1,800 market condominiums, new retail space along Dundas Street East and the creation of three new city streets in an area bounded by Shuter, Sumach, Oak and River streets. As with the two previous phases, TCHC will be working with the Daniels Corporation on the project. - Joanna Lavoie with files from Justin Skinner

Healthy Living breaks down barriers >>>from page 1 screenings and cervical cancer screenings, in some cultures, people don’t even approach those subjects,” he said. “There’s a cultural barrier where that type of screening isn’t even discussed, and for some residents, there’s a fear of screenings, a fear of what the results might be and a lack of knowledge about them.” Healthy Living in St. James Town will aim to break down those barriers by partnering residents with foreign-trained medical professionals, who will become “community assistants” and provide support while demystifying the health-care system. “A lot of people in St. James Town are working two or three jobs and can’t find the time to get screened,” Hallett said. “It works almost like a buddy system, where the community assistants will offer encouragement and work as an

interpreter if that’s needed.” That system works well for the foreign-trained health professionals, as well. Many in St. James Town are working through the onerous process of becoming qualified to practice in Canada, while others have been so frustrated by the time and effort involved, they have simply given up trying to become accredited in Canada. “They’ll be conducting support groups on things like diabetes and offering one-on-one mentoring and support for those who are at risk,” Hallett said. The program will help to combat the “Healthy Immigrant Effect.” Studies have shown newcomers to Canada are, on average, healthier than the average Canadian-born citizen when they first arrive in the country. Over the next five years, however, their health

declines quickly, to the point where they are generally less healthy than Canadian-born people, and are at far greater risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular problems and cancer. “One reason may be the adoption of less healthy Canadian practices, the stress of settling in a new country, retraining, learning a new language and loss of friends and family networks,” said Community Matters Executive Director Margaret Coshan. The federal government’s $528,665 donation has been matched by private donors and some of Community Matters Toronto’s community partners through actual cash funding, space in which the program can work and flourish or other much-needed means.

For more info, visit www.communitymatterstoronto.org

community

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015

winter classic hockey Regent Park’s recently revamped ice rink hosted a game between the Victoria Village and Leaside atom select squads.

outdoor game: with the revitalized outdoor ice rink in Regent Park officially opened earlier this month, a couple of local atom select squads from Victoria Village and Leaside played a special outdoor game on Monday. Below, cold weather can’t deter the fans - or the ref. Right, our national anthem to start the game by Carolyn Gill, left, Lauren Gill, and Allison Verge. Far right top, Frank Antonopoulos fixes his son Peter’s helmet on the Victoria Village bench. Middle right, Leaside’s Neven Pejic is covered by a Victoria Village defender. Bottom right, Leaside’s Colin Nelson, left, and Victoria Village’s Matthew Smart are both after the puck. Leaside won the game 6-1. Photos/EDUARDO LIMA

ROM paleontologist unearths undiscovered species during filming of Dino Hunt Canada JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) paleontologist Dr. David Evans is used to working in quarries and labs. Little did he know that that often unglamorous work would land him on the small screen. Evans will appear in the upcoming History Channel series Dino Hunt Canada, which follows seven teams of paleontologists as they look to unearth fossilized remains of dinosaurs. Amazingly, his team managed to find a heretofore undiscovered species of ceratopsian while filming the show, with that as-yetunnamed creature currently on display at the ROM. “It’s one of the oldest

members of the family that includes the triceratops,” he said of the new species, which is believed to date back some 79 million years. “We managed to find the skull and about 200 bones from the body, which is about 40 per cent of the skeleton. That’s a lot more than we often find.” The new dinosaur differs from the triceratops in that it has a curved frill atop its head. “It helps us to see how the characteristic ornamentation of the (ceratopsian) skull evolved,” he said. Evans noted that Alberta has always been rich in fossil deposits, making up a large chunk of the discoveries made thus far. Roughly 10 per cent of all known dinosaurs species have been unearthed in Canada and, while plenty

were identified long ago, there have been 10 new species discovered in Canada over the past decade. “We’re in a second gold age of discovery for dinosaurs,” he said. “The rate of discover is the highest it’s been at any point since the Canadian dinosaur rush a century ago.” Dino Hunt Canada will give the public unique insight into this new golden age, bringing viewers into the quarry with the scientists and then into the lab where the fossils are painstakingly removed from their stone casings. Prepping the new ceratopsian for both the show and the ROM’s New Dino Unearthed exhibit, which opened Jan. 24, made for harrowing work among ROM staff and volunteers.

“We’ve prepared 200 bones in less than six months, and that’s a blistering pace,” Evans said. “That would normally take us two years. We’ve been lucky in that the sediment (in which the bones were found) was pretty soft, so the separation of the bone has been pretty easy.” In addition to the show itself, the History Channel has created an interactive Dino Hunt Canada website, which allows the public to ask Evans and other experts questions, take a look inside paleontology labs and even suggest a name for the newly discovered dinosaur. Dino Hunt Canada will premiere on the History Channel at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30.

Dino Hunt’s interactive website is at www.dinohuntcanada.history.ca

Courtesy/ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM

ROM paleontologist Dr. David Evans unearths fossilized remains in a quarry, top. Evans will appear in the History Channel show, Dino Hunt Canada. While filming, he unearthed an undiscovered species of ceratopsian, bottom.

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015 |

opinion Ian Proudfoot John Willems Peter Haggert Antoine Tedesco Warren Elder

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Black Experience Project looking to past and future

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ith Black History Month starting Sunday, members of Toronto’s black community are looking not only at their history but their future as well. In today’s edition (see story on page 6), we look at the Black Experience Project that will be seeking input on what it means to be a member of the Greater Toronto Area’s 400,000-strong black community. Some 1,800 residents will be interviewed as part of the project, and organizers expect the answers to be as diverse as the community itself. A project of such scope has never been undertaken in the local black community before, despite a history that goes back to the 1700s in the Toronto area. Karen Carter of Heritage Toronto, one of the more than two dozen partners on the project, said the GTA’s black community has layers of identity – some tracing their ancestors to the our view Underground Railroad, others arriving from the Caribbean in the 1970s or more recently from Africa. Our black How those different ancestries community view themselves as a community, many of differing faiths spread out has layers in neighbourhoods across the GTA, will be one of the key findings the of identity project is aiming to discover. “It’s going to answer some questions we’ve all asked,” said North York filmmaker Ryan Singh of the project. The project’s organizers are clear there is not a single black experience, but rather many different experiences. However, organizers say there are also experiences that all members of the black community share that are unique to them and not experienced “by most other immigrant or ethnic communities in the GTA.” The information from the project should be both fascinating and valuable. For more on the Black Experience Project, go to http://bit.ly/1uTgPiZ For those looking to learn more about events planned in Toronto for February’s Black History Month, we have lots of information in our story today, including local listings. Many of Toronto’s libraries are hosting events during the month, but there are also concerts and dinners to celebrate Black History Month in Toronto. For Black History Month events taking place across the city, visit us at www.insidetoronto.com/torontoevents

The City Centre Mirror welcomes letters of 400 words or less. All submissions must include name, address and a daytime telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Copyright in letters remains with the author but the publisher and affiliates may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. Letters can be sent to letters@ insidetoronto.com, or mailed to The City Centre Mirror, 175 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.

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We’ll be paying for the fruits of Mayor John Tory’s budget in years to come In 2011, former mayor Rob Ford and Toronto City Council made a very shortsighted move. Faced with a budget surplus from the previous administration, the council and mayor decided to use it all, offer a property tax freeze that no one asked for and wasn’t sustainable. In subsequent years, it made Toronto’s financial system more precarious, because by using one-time funding (in that case a surplus), city services were instantly outsized as compared to reliable revenue. It develops that in 2015, Mayor John Tory and the new council are doing something similar. In order to provide a budget that improves city services on a number of fronts, Toronto will be borrowing $86 million from the provincial government, to be repaid with interest.

david nickle the city That loan will pay for services the city has now and for improvements too, reversing many of the cuts made during the Ford years and adding some more. Life will be easier in Toronto in 2015 on a number of fronts. questioning 2016 But because the marginal service improvements rest on a marginal revenue source, 2016 will be another matter. Whether children can continue to ride free on the Toronto Transit Commission and catch their buses more quickly will depend on whether council can bear to cut services somewhere else.

The Ford administration brain trust was well aware that the 2011 tax freeze meant that city council would have no choice but to impose austerity measures in 2012. One might expect that the Tory administration’s brain trust is similarly farsighted. Tory has, indeed, made promises to that effect: that he would find efficiencies in subsequent years, once he’d had a chance to settle into the job. It’s a nice promise to make, but more difficult to achieve. Last year, City Manager Joe Pennachetti, thinking to retire, told council very seriously that Toronto’s public service is running lean now, and that the city’s service levels cannot sustain more trimming. Taxes, indeed, would have to rise in the future if

council is to afford the services it had in 2014. Putting children on the subway for free, adding subway cars and buses to make rush-hour more bearable, sheltering the homeless adequately… Pennachetti had not even contemplated such wonders last fall. So what is to become of us next year? It is difficult to say. Over the course of the campaign, Tory displayed his conservative bona fides; in the months following, he reached out to a more broadly based constituency. And with this budget, he will have settled us into a corner. How we get out of it is anybody’s guess.

David Nickle is The Mirror’s city hall reporter. His column appears Thursday.

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Nelson Mandela school is fitting location for announcement

citycentremirror.com

>>>from page 1 picture of Mandela with his familiar smile – taken by photographer Yousuf Karsh during Mandela’s first visit to Canada – was also a fitting way to pay tribute to the civil rights leader.

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very special smile “He had a very special smile, and if he was here today, he’d be smiling,” Chopra said. Tory said it was fitting the stamp was unveiled at Nelson Mandela Park Public School, not just because the school bears his name, but also because it is located in the heart of the diverse Regent Park community. “When we have diversity like this, we get to learn more and more about each other,” he said. Nelson Mandela Park Public School Vice-Principal Ainsworth Morgan said he was fortunate enough to be at Park Junior and Senior Public School when it was named after Mandela. “I look at all these faces

transit How does it affect you?

Staff photos/JUSTIN SKINNER

Nelson Mandela Park Public School principal Jason Kandankary, right, and Canada Post president and CEO Deepak Chopra.

and it reminds me of that incredible day 14 years ago when Mr. Mandela walked into this school,” he told the assembled students, adding that that day ranks among the highlights of his life. “Mr. Nelson Mandela was not a perfect man – he had his flaws like anyone else, but he persevered and he knew the value of education.”

Mandela’s accomplishments were not lost on the students at the school. Youngsters in the choir sang three songs at the stamp unveiling, two honouring Mandela and a third about Canada Post. Grade 3 student Muntaha Ahmed and Grade 4 student Imran Seid spoke of what Mandela meant to the world. “Nelson Mandela was a

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The Nelson Mandela Park Public School choir sings a song about Nelson Mandela during a ceremony at the school to unveil a Canada Post stamp honouring the civil rights leader.

man of peace – he fought with words, not with fists,” Muntaha said. “Even though he went to jail, he didn’t want to fight back (violently).” The young student said that peaceful nature should serve as inspiration to all, and that it was crucial to treat all people kindly and equally. Imran said the school was lucky to be named after such a great

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person, and that he hoped to live up to the example Mandela set in every way possible. “It means to me that I should be a role model to kids younger than me because Nelson Mandela was a role model for other people,” he said. The Nelson Mandela stamp will officially be put into circulation tomorrow.

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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015

community

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015 |

exclusive feature

BLACK history

MONTH

survey seeks complete picture of people’s lives in our black communities MIKE ADLER madler@insidetoronto.com

oronto’s black community is not unified, not one. It’s many. Organizers of the Black Experience Project know this: 400,000 people in Greater Toronto say they’re black, but each of their lives is different. Finding out how different is a monumental job, but next month – Black History Month – the project’s interviewers will start asking around 1,800 residents what it’s like to be black in the GTA. They’ll be asked about the strength of their identities – black, ethnic, and otherwise – their goals, religious beliefs, and where they feel they belong. Nothing like it has been done with Toronto’s black community, or communities, before. “It’s going to answer some questions we’ve all asked,” as well as shed some light on misconceptions, North York filmmaker Ryan Singh said last week. “More people will say, ‘The black community is a viable community, and we want to know more about it.’” Its supporters, including members of more than two dozen non-profit groups, say the project, when completed and released later this year, won’t simply sit on a shelf. “We’re going to get a really complete picture of people’s lives,” added Keith Neuman, executive director of the nonprofit Environics Institute, one of the project’s partners. The study is an important exercise, said Karen Carter,

executive director of Heritage Toronto and one of hundreds of “trailblazers” who volunteered time to shape it during 2012 and 2013. Black people in Toronto have layers of identity – whether they’re from families whose ancestors arrived on the Underground Railroad, or who came from the Caribbean in the Trudeau era, or from Africa more recently – complicated by the spaces in Greater Toronto they live in, Carter said. After its findings are known, Carter hopes the community, or communities, can “look within ourselves at these complications, as we grapple with them.” As chairperson of Black Artists’ Network in Dialogue, which uses culture “as a way to educate the average Canadian and average fellow citizen about who we are,” she said she avoids featuring just works from artists of Caribbean background, though artistic excellence must be shown by all. Carter also hopes the project demonstrates the usuallyoverlooked economic power of Toronto’s black people, and that the results make their leaders more confident, able to go “walking in the door (of institutions) and saying, ‘Hey, I’m here,’ even if you weren’t invited.” Michael Hall, a vice president of YMCA of Greater Toronto, said his organization, a project partner whose black staff examined the proposal and got involved in designing the research, is committed to use the project afterwards to serve the community better. The YMCA supports any chance to “understand who (the black) community is,”

call to action

A video on the project can be found at http://youtu.be/JKezwsr7N10 A question is asked: What does it mean to be black? People’s answers included the following powerful words: identity • judgement • freedom • rhythm • connection inclusion • strengths • endangered species • strength empowerment • cultural values • trendsetter

what’s on in City Centre

w saturday, jan. 31 Freedom City: Uncovering Toronto’s Black History The Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., will host an exhibit that brings life to Toronto’s earliest-known black citizens. Photos, paintings, manuscripts and more will showcase the early African-Canadian experience. The exhibit runs through March 28.

Photo/Antony Ellis

Keynote speaker and former Scarborough East MPP Mary Anne Chambers addresses the Ontario Black History Society’s Black History Month kick-off brunch this past Sunday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

share your view What are your thoughts on the successes and challenges of the black community? Email us at press@insidetoronto.com including its needs and aspirations, Hall said. Though a report on the project’s “trailblazing” first phase concludes “there is no single ‘black experience,’ but rather ‘black experiences,’” and “the diversity with the community needs to be emphasized,” it also finds Toronto’s black people, as a whole, face challenges “not similarly experienced by most other immigrant or ethnic communities in the GTA.” Singh said he sees the project as a way to unite the black community’s factions and fragments. “There’s power in unity,” said Singh, adding his work within the community has reflected a “love-hate relationship” for years. “I love because I love my people, but I challenge because I find we’re so fragmented,” said Singh, who directed a call-to-action video (http:// youtu.be/JKezwsr7N10) for the project. The research won’t answer every question, but it will start

conversations to help heal the community, and will change the way advertisers and governments look at black people, he predicted. “It’s the beginning of understanding a people.” Singh joins a five-person panel discussing black experiences, moderated by author and broadcaster Dalton Higgins, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5 in the Maria A, Shchuka Toronto Public Library branch at 1745 Eglinton Ave. W. Each person speaking at the free event is a black storyteller or educator. The city’s other scheduled Black History Month events are, unsurprisingly, quite diverse, presenting everything from personal histories and spoken word poetry to culinary delights. For the Ontario Black History Society kick-off brunch this past Sunday, Mary Anne Chambers, a former Scarborough MPP, said she planned to speak about “selfempowerment,” her call to people in black communities “to see themselves as part of the solution.” “We are capable of, and we have made, these huge contributions to the world, and we need to continue to take our responsibility to define who we are and write our own history,” she declared last week.

Chambers said she’d reflect on achievements of black inventors, “people whose names we don’t hear as much as maybe we should,” but whose brilliance improved lives around the world. “Notwithstanding challenges too many people still experience as a result of poverty or not-too-subtle racism, we’ve come a long way,” added Chambers. Drop-out rates for black high school students are unacceptably high, relations with police are strained, and the community is over-represented in Ontario’s child welfare system, said Chambers, a former provincial minister for children and youth. Expressing sympathy for young people in these situations – “They need the village to support them today” – she also said she’d encourage youth to seek careers in law enforcement or justice system, to make changes from inside. When black youth and police meet under positive circumstances, stereotypes diminish and respect increases, said Chambers. “I hear this from the kids and I hear this from the police.”

Learn more about the Black Experience Project at www. environics.ca/bep-gta

w tuesday, Feb. 3 An Evening Honouring The Book of Negroes The author of ‘The Book of Negroes’, Lawrence Hill, will join the co-writer and director of the mini-series Clement Virgo and series lead Aunjanue Ellis for a discussion and a screening of the series finale. The event takes place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., from 7 to 9 p.m. Visit www.eventbrite.ca w friday, Feb. 6 to 8 Kuumba Harbourfront Centre will host a series of events. The festival includes a Kuumba marketplace, live music, dance and cultural experiences, along with Kenny Robinson’s Nubians on the Waterfront Comedy Show, National Film Board Black History films for kids, Soca on Ice and more. For information, visit www.harbourfrontcentre. com/kuumba w friday, Feb. 6 From Griot to Hip Hop: The Music IS the Story The Toronto Reference Library will host music and stories from Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, the Caribbbean and Canada, with five artists sharing their experiences of Toronto seen through a cultural lens. The artists will draw on their cultural heritage and speak on the city’s black and Caribbean communities. The event takes place in the atrium of the library, 789 Yonge St., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. w thursday, Feb. 19 The Power of Mentoring, Diversity, and Dreaming Big Black mentors will speak to students about how to achieve their goals, with a special focus on the challenges black students face as they join the workforce. The event will also feature live music and dance performances, with guests able to attend in person or watch online. The event takes place at Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St. E. from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. For information, visit http://heritagetoronto.org

city centre happening in

w Saturday, Jan. 31

2015 Walk for Memories WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon WHERE: Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St. CONTACT: Kimberlee Waymann, www.walk.alz.to, kwaymann@ alzheimertoronto.org COST: Free The walk is a fun, family friendly event where the community comes together to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Toronto while honouring and remembering those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Broadcast Centre (Gallery), The Exchange Tower, 130 King St. W. CONTACT: Wendy Kan, 416-955-0394, ext. 502, www.cjf-fjc.ca COST: Early bird: $20, student: $15, general admission: $25 As fans look to connect with athletes, understand the latest scandal, and track the business of their teams, how are Canadian media and journalists tackling the challenge? Sports writers will be on hand to discuss the future of sports journalism. https:// cjf-sports-landscape.eventbrite.ca

w Tuesday, Feb. 3

w Saturday, Feb. 7

Maintaining health for women with MS WHEN: noon to 2 p.m. WHERE: Women’s College Hospital, 76 Grenville St. CONTACT: Angela Covert, 416-967-3034, http://mssociety.ca/chapters/toronto/events.htm COST: Free Topics: Physical activity (noon to 1 p.m.) and Heart health (1 to 2 p.m.) Beth Lida Forest Hill Synagogue’s Renovation Celebration WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Beth Lida Forest Hill Synagogue, 22 Gilgorm Rd. CONTACT: Suzanne Wintrob, 416-301-8764, swintrob@ gmail.com COST: Free Beth Lida Forest Hill Synagogue, established in 1912, invites the community to a reception to celebrate the completion of the synagogue’s recent renovation and to honour its major donors. Maariv will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the new sanctuary.

w Thursday, Feb. 5

CJF J-Talk: More Than Hockey: Canada’s Expanding Sports Media Landscape WHEN: 6:30 to 8 p.m. WHERE: TMX

REAL ESTATE The City Centre Mirror is delivered to 47,350 homes. Call 416-493-4400 to advertise in the #1 read newspaper in City Centre.

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Dragons’ Den Auditions WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: CBC, 250 Front St. W. CONTACT: Rachelle Dobson, 416-205-6945, rachelle.dobson@cbc.ca COST: Free Dragon’s Den will be holding open auditions. Producers are searching for the next big idea for the upcoming season. Valentine Origami WHEN: 2 to 4 p.m. WHERE: Lillian H. Smith Library, 239 College St. CONTACT: 416-3937746 COST: Free Come fold a heart and bear mobile. Suitable for ages six to 12. No registration required. Program offered in partnership with FOLD, the UofT Origami Club, which meet the first Saturday of the month to offer origami to children.

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7 | CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015 |

Frank Leo

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Custom built 4 + 2 bdrm 2 storey with addition, gorgeous renovated kitchen & baths, granite counter tops, gleaming hardwood floor, 4 full baths, main floor. Family room & den, 2nd floor laundry, finished basement with separate entrance, quality craftsmanship through-out, thousands spent must be seen for $1,099,900.

Waterfront Location, Totally Redesigned & Professionally Renovated 3 Bedroom, 3,200 Sq Ft Suite with Lavish Finishes, Over 350K Spent, No Expense Spared, Top of the Line Appliances, Crown Mouldings, Custom Cabinetry, Gourmet Kitchen, Divine Bathrooms...the list goes on. A Spectacular Lifestyle awaits you. Call for a Confidential Viewing Today! Only $1,050,000!

DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT LOWER PENTHOUSE Breathtaking Unobstructed Views of the Lake. Spacious Open Concept Layout, Spacious Kitchen w/ Breakfast Bar, Granite and Pantry, Floor to ceiling windows, 2 Bedroom Split Floor Plan, Prime Location with Shopping, Restaurants and Transit steps away, Fantastic amenities! Only $999,900!

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Stunning Euro designed 4 bdrm raised bungalow. Gorgeous kitchen with granite floors & countertops, top line built-in appliances, quality finishing & craftsmanship throughout. Large combined living & dining room, marble floors, huge family room, gas fireplace, den, gleaming hardwood floors, 5 washrooms, incredible master bedroom, 6pc ensuite & W/I closet, beautifully landscaped property. Must be seen for $1,650,000

AMAZING LOCATION & INVESTMENT PROPERTY!!

3 in One, 60 Yr Established Automotive Shop with 5 Bays, 16ft Ceiling, Access From Front and Back Lane, Turn Key, All Equipment & Business Included, Commercial Unit at Front (Previously Used as Auto Parts Store) Plus 2 Bedroom Apartment Above, High Demand Location Bloor/Lansdowne/Dupont, Only $999,900!

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Situated on premium lot over ½ an acre! Quiet enclave of Multimillion Dollar Homes, Over 5,000 Sq Ft, 5 Bdrms, Finished Basement, Indoor Pool, Walkout to Huge Deck overlooking Golf Course, Spectacular Backyard, Thousands spent on Renovations and Upgrades, Bright Sunlit, 3 Skylights, Circular Staircase, Formal Rooms,3 Car Garage, Plus much more! Only $1,599,900!

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Well Maintained Detached Bungalow with Amazing Potential - Live, Rent, Renovate Or Build! Large Lot, Private Driveway W/Garage, Separate Side Entrance To Basement Apartment, Many Recent Updates. Move In Now Or Renovate To Suit Your Taste. Close To Shopping, Parks And Transit. Don’t Miss Out!! Only $899,900!

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Spectacular Custom Built 2 Storey with 4+1 Bedrooms, Situated on a Premium 50 Ft Lot, Stone & Stucco Exterior, High Quality Finishes, Open Concept Layout, Gourmet Kitchen, Granite, Crown Mouldings, Finished Basement, 5 Baths, Amazing Neighbourhood and Location, Shows to Perfection! Only $1,549,999!

AMAZING 80 X 222 FT LOT

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AMAZING OPPORTUNITY

Large Detached Home Located On A Quiet FamilyFriendly Street! This Charming And Well Maintained 3 Bedroom Home Has Huge Potential. Large Lot, Separate Basement Entrance, Many Recent Updates. Move In Now Or Renovate To Your Taste. Close To Parks And Transit. Hurry. This One Won’t Last Long!! Only $419,900!

LUXURIOUS BROADWAY CONDO Access To Subway -- Minutes To Downtown! 1 Bedroom/1 Bathroom Suite With Large Terrace & Soaring 10’ Ceilings. Fantastic Location Next To Shopping, Restaurants & Theatres. Includes Parking & Locker. Amazing Opportunity!! Only $289,900!

AMAZING VALUE!! One of a kind Custom Property, Detached 4+1 Bedroom, Situated on a 50 x 175 Ft Lot, Double Detached Garage, Long Drive, 2 In- Law Suites, Separate Rec Room , Inground Pool, Live for less than Rent! Shows Great! Only $699,900!

ICE 2

Brand New Corner Suite, 2 Bedrooms, 753 Sq Ft on 20th Floor, Fabulous Layout, Walk out to Balcony, Parking & Locker Included, Fabulous Location Directly Connected to Maple Leaf Square, Fabulous Amenities, Amazing Value! Being Sold Under Assignment. Only $549,900!

DUFFERIN/BLOOR Ideal Location, 4 Bedroom Brick 2 ½ Storey in High Demand Location, Large Veranda & Balcony, 2 Kitchens. Invest, Live, Fabulous Opportunity, Steps to Subway, Close to Amenities. Incredible Value! Only $599,900!

170 FT DEEP LOT

2 Storey Brick 3+1 Bedroom, Open Concept Layout, Centre Island, Granite Countertop in Gourmet Kitchen, Stainless Steel Appliances, Separate Entrance to Finished Basement, Ideal for Entertaining or Possible In-Law Suite, Close to Amenities. Only $539,900!

YONGE & SHEPPARD

Opulence And Sophistication At Tridel’s Avonshire Condo! This Suite Has Been Completely Remodeled With The Finest In Modern Finishes. Large 2+1 Bedroom Split Layout, 9’ Ceilings, South/East Exposure, Master Ensuite. Tridel-Built Luxury & Quality With All The Amenities! Amazing Location Close To Shopping, Parks, Hwy & Transit. Absolutely Stunning Property…Must Be Seen!! Only $599,900!

BRAND NEW BRAMPTON HOME!

Stunning New Mattamy Built 4 Bdrm Detached 2 Storey at Sandalwood/Creditview. Approx. 1900 Sq Ft with a Great Open Concept Layout, Separate Entrance to Potential Basement Apartment, Full Tarion Warranty. Brand New Subdivision, Furniture Included! Only $499,000!

FABULOUS WOODBRIDGE LUXURY CONDO!!

Gorgeous & new ‘Very Boutique Condo’, spacious & bright 2+1 bedroom corner suite overlooking ravine. Approx. 1000 sq. ft. of luxury living featuring 9’ ceilings, rich hardwood floors, beautiful trim work, premium kitchen w/granite counters, upgraded stainless steel appliances, master bedroom w/ensuite & huge W/I closet, granite counters in bathrooms, large west-facing balcony w/gas BBQ hook-up. Amazing opportunity for $469,900!!

THE MASTERS

BELLARIA TOWER 4

Two Large Balconies, with Fabulous view Overlooking the Pool & Golf Course, Very Spacious 3 Bedroom Split Level, with Over 1,700 Sq Ft, Largest Suite in the Building, Original Owners, Immaculate condition, Shows Great, Amazing Value! Only $419,900!

Gorgeous Suite, Open Concept Layout, 1 Bedroom + Dinette, 785 Sq Ft, 9 Ft Ceilings, Thousands spent in Upgrades, Plus Parking & Locker Included, Fabulous Amenities! Simply Must be Seen! Almost New! Only $364,900!

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Updated Kitchen, Ceramic Flr, Bkfst Bar, Sun Room, Open Concept Living Room, Formal Dining Room, 2 Bedroom, Plus Finished Basement, 1 Bedroom In-Law Suite, with Sun Room & Separate Entrance, Steps to Transit, Minutes to Downtown & Airport, Easy Access to Hwy’s, Close to Amenities, Stop Paying Rent & Own for Less! Only $299,900!

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Gorgeous 4 Bedroom Home for Lease! Modern, Open Concept Layout with Dark Bamboo Floors, Pot lights, Granite & Stainless Steel Appliances in Kitchen, Wonderful Family Neighbourhood. Only $3,200/month!

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SEE MORE PHOTOS: www.GetLeo.com Call Today 416-917-LION (5466) and Start Packing! Not intended to solicit persons under contract. *Certain Conditions May Apply. ReMax West Realty Inc. does not guarantee the sale of your home. Exclusively offered by Frank Leo.

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015

HOME SELLING SYSTEM

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015 |

a&e

Readers’ Choice Contest

250

Photo/NATALIE CHU

The audience gathers at Huntclub Studios on College Street for the panel discussion Toronto Music Moment last Sunday, hosted by underground music forum Wavelength.

Diversity as identity for Toronto music scene NATALIE CHU ccm@insidetoronto.com

in Gift Cards available to be won!!! Enter the City Centre Mirror’s Readers’ Choice contest for your chance to win one of the following gift cards: Gift Card to Canadian Tire

Gift Card to Canadian Tire

YO OUR R OPINIO ON COUN NTS!!!! Cast your vote for your favourite local businesses for your chance to win one of the gift cards. Make sure you nominate in at least 45 categories to be eligible for the draw. Thank you for participating and good luck! Visit www w.ins sidettoron nto.c com m/c conttests s to enter. oting g en nds at mid dnig ght on Feb bruarry 22nd!! HURRY, vo No purchase necessary. The Contest is open to residents of Toronto, Ontario 18 years of age or older. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Two (2) grand prizes will be awarded. Approximate retail value of grand prizes is approx $250. Entrants must correctly answer, unaided, a mathematical skill-testing question to be declared a winner. Contest closes February 22, 2015 at 11:59pm. To enter online and for complete contest rules visit www.insidetoronto.com/contests.

A publication of ®

Questions of diversity and representation, and unique challenges with accessibility and funding in Toronto’s music industry, were all up for discussion during a recent panel at the Huntclub Studios. “It’s really an exciting time to be part of the industry,” said Mike Tanner, the city’s new music sector development officer and former director of operations of North by Northeast (NXNE). “There’s clearly lots of energy and enthusiasm and the city is talking more about it,” he said, adding one of his current goals is to streamline processes to make sure more permits are granted and more venues are accessible. Tanner joined other industry experts in the first of a five-part talk series hosted by underground music forum Wavelength. The panel discussion, held in the west end last Sunday, was entitled “The Toronto Music Moment” and drew a packed venue. For author and hip-hop expert Dalton Higgins, Toronto’s music scene may be growing, but it still remains “incredibly segregated.” “We need to be proactive,” Higgins said, calling for more pathways for communities beyond the downtown core to engage with Toronto’s scene. “We need to lose the complainers and start taking action.” While most panelists cited the controversy over last year’s

cancelled show “Awesome Tapes From Africa” (due to an all-white DJ lineup), Higgins said the priority is finding authentic promoters and staffing that was representative of Toronto’s cultural diversity. “What is going on with our ecosystem?” Higgins added, singling out a Toronto-born rapper in the audience who recently moved to Los Angeles to build his career. “Local artists are moving and we need to support them here.” With the Guvernment building hosting its final shows this month and more venues closing year after year, the panelists also tackled another one of the city’s biggest challenges: finding accessible spaces for musicians to perform. Performer and writer Aubrey Jax suggested building a database and even creating a 311 help line in the city office to share resources and coordinate venues. She also cited the Toronto International Film Festival’s permanent space as something the city’s music industry could look toward. “We really need to work from the ground up,” Jax said. “A permanent space could also provide areas for workshops and a place to train volunteers.” As for fragmentation, Jax hopes Toronto can become a place where artists could tour across the city’s 150 live music venues, instead of having to branch out into other parts of Southern Ontario. However, radio host Sergio

Elmir pointed to opportunities to “empower people” across the city in alternative venues — such as the Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park — instead of one central location. “All communities need to be represented,” Elmir said. “Young artists of colour need to be supported especially when they don’t fit a certain mold.” Building a new large venue that met zoning regulations or even enough land amidst other development projects posed a major challenge in itself, anyway. For audience members, including many other young musicians navigating the industry in Toronto, the biggest question was: how do we get financial support? “We need to focus on arts as a business not just art for arts sake,” Higgins said, adding that private sector funding, including sponsorship was not to be overlooked. For Tanner, changing the narrative of Toronto’s music scene was really about recognizing its place as a music city and being “visionary.” “It’s really about seeing Toronto’s music scene as more than just a moment,” Tanner said. “We need to see it as a way of living.” The next Wavelength panel discussion entitled Grants for Grassroots takes place Sunday, Feb. 8 at Huntclub Studios.

For more information about Wavelength discussions visit www.wavelengthtoronto.com

motionball gala raises money for Special Olympics Canada Glitz & Graffiti set for Feb. 6 JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com With the 14th annual motionball Toronto gala a little over a week away, the organization’s founders are looking forward to hitting an impressive mile-

stone. Brothers Mark, Paul and Sean Etherington started motionball, running it out of a North Toronto office, in 2002. The organization hosts galas, sports days and other events with proceeds going to Special Olympics Canada. This year’s motionball gala, Glitz & Graffiti, will allow motionball to surpass $5 million in donations, drawing

primarily on a demographic often overlooked when it comes to fundraising initiatives. “It brings Toronto’s young professionals together to enjoy music, culture, entertainment, art and food,” Paul Etherington said of the upcoming gala. “So many people in that age group want to give, but they want to have a good time, too.” Glitz & Graffiti will fea-

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and will work with them to help find them a physician. Some considerations that are taken into account by Care Connectors are wheelchair accessibility, the ability of the doctor or team members to make house calls or languages spoken. Those who have more complex health requirements are prioritized and are able to receive ongoing monitoring and care in order to maintain their health and keep them out of the hospital. When a “match”is found, the individual meets with the doctor and then makes the decision about accepting continuing care. All registrants have the option to accept the match or re-register and begin the process anew. The criterion for eligibility includes the following: • Registrants must have no existing enrollment with a family doctor • A valid OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) card • An up-to-date mailing address For more information about Health Care Connect, contact the Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) at (416) 506-9888 or visit www.healthcareathome.ca

ture many of the draws that have made motionball galas a huge success in the past, with nine DJs, some great acoustic bands, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and a host bar. This year, however, will bring something new as well. “We’re going to have an art gallery with 40 local artists showcasing pieces that will be up for auction,” Etherington

said. In keeping with the Glitz & Graffiti theme, the night will feature contrasting styles. “We’ll have one room that’s elegant and high end and the other will have a more urban feel, with DJs and great graffiti artists doing live graffiti that guests can bid on,” Etherington said. There will also be guest celebrities, and 30 Special

Olympic athletes will be on hand to mix and mingle with the crowd. The gala will take place at the Liberty Grand, 25 British Columbia Rd., on Friday, Feb. 6. A VIP reception will begin at 7 p.m. with doors open to regular ticket holders at 9 p.m.

For tickets or more information about the gala, visit www.motionball.com/

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015

community

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 29, 2015 |

transit FUTURE SHOP CORRECTION NOTICE NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE FUTURE SHOP JANUARY 23 CORPORATE FLYER In the January 23 flyer, page 8, the HP Laptop Featuring Intel® N3540 Processor (14-v134ca) (Web ID: 10324687) was advertised with an incorrect spec. Please be advised that this laptop IS NOT a touchscreen, as previously advertised. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.

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Artist launches The 506 Streetcar Project TTC unveils

its customer charter

JOANNA LAVOIE jlavoie@insidetoronto.com Little India-area resident Karen Franzen is so passionate about the Red Rocket she’s recently created The 506 Streetcar Project. Franzen, who has lived near Coxwell Avenue and Upper Gerrard Street East for 15 years, named her initiative after the 506 Carlton route, which runs for about 15 kilometres along Gerrard, Carlton and College streets. “Where I live, I hear (streetcars) passing back and forth many, many times a day,” said Franzen, a community advocate who has been involved in several local issues over the years. She said she decided to highlight the 506 route since it runs right outside her home and is especially interesting as it passes through many unique neighbourhoods that are home to a wide range of ethnic and socio-economic groups. A ceramic artist by trade, Franzen said she felt inspired to move forward with her idea in light of her recent enrollment in an Artscape course on creative entrepreneurship. “It’s an idea that I’ve had in my head for a few years,” said Franzen,

XIII

Photos/AARON SCHWARTZ

The 506 streetcar at the corner of Gerrard Street East and Logan Avenue. Little India resident Karen Franzen launched The 506 Streetcar Project an ode to the streetcar and its eclectic route.

who on Jan. 11 created a facebook group (http://goo.gl/l66zFb) for The 506 Streetcar Project. “I set up the group to see what would happen. I think there are many, many stories and I just want to bring them out,” she said. “I don’t know how this is going to evolve, but I just want this to sort of be a guide to the 506 streetcar.” In less than two weeks, scores of people have already posted interesting photos and stories about

their experiences on The 506. “I’m also hoping the history of the streetcar will come into it, too,” said Franzen, who is also in the process of organizing a group streetcar ride on The 506. Visit the facebook page for the latest details. As the project progresses, Franzen said she’s hoping to organize a fun art-based event on the 506 streetcar. She’s looking for artistic individuals to contribute to the initiative as well as help to run and expand it.

Email karen.franzen@sympatico. ca for more information or to get involved.

For the third year in a row the TTC has unveiled a list of transit improvements it pledges to implement quarter-by-quarter. This year’s customer charter, announced Jan. 23 by TTC chair Josh Colle and Chief Customer Officer Chris Upfold at Bloor Station, contains 38 commitments ranging from seemingly simpler improvements like installing updated route maps at stations and bus shelters to more ambitious goals like reducing subway delays by five per cent. “By enshrining these commitments to our customers in this fashion the TTC is more accountable to our riders and staff,” Colle said. According to information on its website the TTC managed to fulfill some 2014 charter commitments, but failed on seven key charter promises including introducing articulated buses to seven routes. Here are some of the more notable charter commitments for 2015: • Completing Wi-Fi installations between St. George and Bloor stations by March. • Completing Union Station renovation work before the start of the Pan Am/Para Pan Am Games. • Adding the PRESTO fare system to every TTC streetcar by the end of the year. • Expanding use of debit and credit card payments to allow for single fare purchases. • Ensuring blue priority seats are installed on 90 per cent of all TTC vehicles. To review the 2015 customer charter visit www.ttc.ca

February 13 – 15, 2015

More than 100 artists in the Broadview and Danforth area for three days of Blues and Roots music Visit the Black Swan, Dora Keogh, the Globe Bistro and TerriO’s

Winterfolk is a Family Festival. All ages are Welcome. www.winterfolk.com Media Sponsor

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6 month program evening classes $1,900 Special 416-800-8281

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INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR SCHOOL No Simulators. In-the-seat training. Real world tasks. Weekly start dates. Job board! Funding options. Sign up online! iheschool.com 1-866-399-3853

www.insidetoronto.com

Looking for a Great Part-Time Job? BECOME A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER Free training provided!

Ask about our Route Bonuses! Ask about our Bonus for B or E Licenced drivers!

APPLY ONLINE: www.stocktransportation.com

DZ Driver/Loaders & 310T Mechanics Wanted!

GFL Environmental is looking for DZ Driver/Loaders and 310T mechanics in the Aurora, Caledon and Etobicoke Areas. Waste experience an asset. Training will be provided. Please email resume, drivers abstract and CVOR to careers@gflenv.com or fax to 905-428-2324. More details visit website: http://www.gflenv.com/

Delivery questions? Call us at:

416-493-4400

APPLY BY PHONE:

distribution@insidetoronto.com

1-877-233-4045

Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm • 905-853-2527 Toll Free 1-800-743-3353 • Fax 905-853-1765 For delivery questions, please contact 416-493-2284

electrical

halvi@stocktransportation.com

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